"There, look."
"Where?"
"Next to that girl with the bushy brown hair." "Wearing the glasses?"
"Did you see his face?"
"Did you see his scar?"
As usual whispers followed Harry from the moment he left his dormitory the next day. People lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe to get a look at him, or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again, staring.
He was not looking forward to his fame being a novelty again. It had finally begun to wear off during sixth year as the students were wholly used to him and no longer prone to gawking even if they did still whisper.
Harry and Hermione did their best to ignore it all. They were eating breakfast together when suddenly caught sight of a familiar boy with pale blonde hair and a pointed face, Malfoy. He approached their table and introduced himself.
"Harry Potter, it's nice to meet you. I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
"Hello" He replied simply, fighting to keep the disdain out of his voice.
"And you are?" Malfoy asked turning to Hermione only out of politeness.
"Hermione Granger" She answered just managing to avoid showing her true emotions.
"Granger huh? I don't think I've heard your family surname before," The bully seemed to be wracking his brains trying to connect her to a pureblood family as he clearly couldn't imagine Harry would associate with anyone else.
"I'm muggle born," She said coolly. Malfoy's expression changed to one of loathing.
He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
Harry rolled his eyes. "And do you honestly think I'm so naive and idiotic that I can't tell for myself? If you really wanted to be my friend you wouldn't insult my current ones. I know who you are Malfoy, I know what your father's done and considering my history with the dark lord I don't want anything to do with you."
Malfoy turned red with anger and embarrassment. "I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either."
"I don't take kindly to threats. Leave me alone Malfoy or I promise I'll make you regret it" Harry returned, giving him such a withering glare that it left even someone like Malfoy unsettled.
"I don't want to be friends with someone who hangs around with mudbloods anyway!" He sneered.
Harry leaped up from the table withdrawing his wand but Hermione tugged on his arm. "Harry don't!" She hissed. And just in time too, Snape had been watching them as if just looking for an excuse to give him detention.
Malfoy smirked when he backed down and sauntered off back to the Slytherin table. Harry sat back down and continued eating his breakfast. "Thanks Hermione."
"You've got to be more careful" She chastised. "You know far too many spells and jinxes for a first year, you'll give yourself away."
Harry knew she was right. The last thing he needed was to make Dumbledore suspicious enough to use Legilimency on him. If he found out about the future or what their plans were, it would be the end of everything.
"That reminds me," He said pulling a book out of his bag. "We should start by making this our top priority for the time being."
"A book on Occlumency?" Hermione replied, looking at the title. "That's a great idea! I'm glad to see you're taking things more seriously now."
"I have to, we're up against impossible odds here. Besides," He added, "It helps that I have you to be a good influence on me and no Ron to be a bad one" He grinned at her and she blushed. They finished their breakfast and headed to their classes for the day.
Harry and Hermione quickly became prodigies in the eyes of their professors, picking up on what they were being taught much faster than the rest of their fellow students. Naturally though, there was one professor who didn't think either of them quite so talented.
Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity."
Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking," he began. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Fortunately Harry was well prepared for this and had spent the morning studying his potion book, knowing what was to come for his first Potions class.
"Draught of Living Death" He answered calmly, trying to keep the smile off his face when Snape glared at him in shock.
"Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
"A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it can save you from most poisons."
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"They're the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite."
Snape had turned absolutely purple with rage, looking ready to explode. "Rather full of yourself aren't you, Potter? You certainly belong in Ravenclaw" He spat. The way he said that last part was clearly an insult and the other Ravenclaw students looked indignant by it.
"Thank you sir," Harry replied, feigning ignorance. Snape growled and turned back the board. The professor spent the rest of class trying to get Harry to slip up while making their first potion, but having six years of added experience (despite five of those being taught by Snape), his potion was the second best in the classroom, Hermione's being the first of course.
Even though Harry knew Snape was technically on the 'good' side (then again so was Dumbledore so that really wasn't saying much), he found he couldn't forgive him for the years of torment, not just to himself but all the other students who had the misfortune of being taught by Snape and had suffered under him.
Later in the week Harry got an owl from Hagrid inviting him to tea on Friday afternoon. Harry decided to invite Neville to join him and Hermione.
"A-are you sure?" He asked nervously.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought, you know…since you're a Ravenclaw now you wouldn't want to hang around someone as dumb as me."
"Neville you're not dumb!" Harry protested at this. "You just lack confidence is all, I can see you're very smart, and brave too."
"Harry's right Neville. Don't sell yourself so short" Hermione added placing a hand on his shoulder. The boy looked up into their faces and saw their earnestness, nearly bursting into happy tears at this.
Harry was glad he had decided to reach out to Neville, he could see now that he'd been just as lonely and friendless as they both had been before coming to Hogwarts.
After tea with Hagrid, they spent the rest of the evening helping Neville study and do his homework in the library, something the boy was very grateful for. Harry's mind then wandered to the newspaper they'd seen while there.
No doubt Dumbledore was expecting him to investigate and find out what was hidden on the third floor corridor so he could venture through the traps he'd set up to guard the stone, all as a test for Harry. But seeing as the stone was perfectly safe (he was very assured of that now, there had been no real danger of Voldemort getting to it, it was all just a test for Harry), he felt no inclination to waste his time on Dumbledore's mind games.
When it was at last time for flying lessons, Harry began to excited. He very much missed being on a broom and even though it would be on one of the school brooms rather than his nimbus 2000 or firebolt, it would still be nice. Especially since as a Ravenclaw, he wouldn't have flying clsss with the Slytherins and therefore not have to worry about Malfoy, though so far the bully had kept his distance. He knew it probably wouldn't last but he'd enjoy it while it did.
As soon as Madame Hooch gave the signal, Harry took off on his broom. For the moment he forgot all his worries, all his problems, right now he was free.
When he finally touched down again, Hooch was looking at him in awe. "You're an excellent flier especially for your first time. Seems casting spells isn't the only area where you're naturally gifted, eh Potter?"
Harry blushed and thanked her. The only downside with this situation was he wouldn't be joining the quidditch team early or maybe at all considering Ravenclaw already had a seeker for their team.
Hermione was wobbling on her broom, only a few feet off the ground and looking terrified as usual. Harry set his broom down and went over to her.
"It'll help you balance better if you position yourself like this" He said helping to adjust her and then hopping onto the broom with her.
"Up!"
"Oh please no Harry! I don't want to go any higher than this" Her voice shaking.
"It'll be okay, I won't let you fall" He assured her as the broom rose into the air. Suddenly Hermione shrieked and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
As they flew around at slow pace, she began to relax more and more. Harry found this to be a surprisingly enjoyable way to fly. He wondered why he'd never thought to try it with Ginny.
Wait, why am I thinking about Hermione in the same context as my former girlfriend? It's not like this is a romantic flight, she's my friend, my best friend! Harry felt his face turn red and he was very glad that Hermione could not see it.
When they touched back down, Hermione was the first off the broom but she looked much calmer than before. "Thank you Harry, that actually wasn't so bad" She admitted with a smile.
"No problem" He said a little distractedly, his thoughts still on the same subject as before. Lately whenever he thought about her, he felt very confused and his mind got all jumbled up inside. Or was it his heart that was doing that?
Class ended and they went back the castle together, Hermione chattering about mundane things and Harry trying very hard not to think about how it had made him feel when she'd wrapped her arms around his waist as they flew around the broomstick.
A/N: I am attempting to write the Harry/Hermione pair as a slow burn but at the same time recognize that I'm very impatient so I'm not committing to it fully. We'll just have to wait and see how long I hold out before breaking down and finally getting them together. For now Harry is gradually coming to realize his feelings for Hermione and that she's not like a sister after all.